ANY time a critter is gut shot, you might as well prepare to track a LONG way, and should give it several times amount of time to start tracking after it over vital shots. If you push a gut shot critter, especially something as big as an mature bull elk, it might run for MILES! You MIGHT get extremely lucky and find it close but the norm is a LONG way. NO shoulder fired rifle light enough to hold up normally ain't going to be enough to knock it down with a gut shot! The answer is not more powerful rifle, but practice to be a better shot & discipline on when to fire or when to NOT fire! Also realistic practice like you're actually going to shoot like when hunting! No benchrests in the mountains!